Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) with Specialism -Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism

City, University of London

United Kingdom, London

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Home/United Kingdom/London /City, University of London/Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) with Specialism -Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism

City, University of London

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Graduate Diploma

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

LALMBVS01

Campuses

Northampton Square

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 18,260 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) with Specialism -Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism

About

You will learn how to advise and represent a range of clients and prepare for the demands of a career at the Bar through this rigorous course, which is designed to reflect the work of the modern Bar.

You will develop skills and gain knowledge through interaction with professionals and peers. As lawyers and educators, our staff ensure you receive a high quality of education and personal support.

You can access support from our Pupillage Advisory Service (PAS) as soon as you accept an offer. We provide a comprehensive and thorough preparation for pupillage applications and pupillage itself.

PAS has extensive links with chambers and you will have the opportunity to attend a range of networking events, as well as advice from both staff and practitioners on completing pupillage applications and preparation for pupillage interviews, including mock interviews.

Accreditation

The Vocational Component is accredited by the Bar Standards Board. The BSB sets out the education and training requirements for becoming a barrister, which means once you graduate, and provided you complete the Inns qualifying sessions, you are qualified for Call to the Bar.

Awards

You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.

Master of Laws (LLM)

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

Postgraduate Diploma with Specialism (PGDip with Specialism)

Who is this course for?

This Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) is primarily designed for those who want to qualify as a barrister. It includes the vocational stage of training for the Bar of England and Wales.

It will enable you to develop in depth legal knowledge and a wide range of legal skills, which could also be beneficial in a number of other professional careers.

Choosing to take the Postgraduate Diploma with specialism or LLM routes will give you the opportunity to further develop your CV and knowledge of specialist areas of law.

This is a blended learning programme, focussing on face-to-face teaching in small groups supported by extensive online materials to enhance classroom learning.

Prepare for Call to the Bar of England and Wales by studying our Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme. This programme allows you to study the vocational component of Bar training required for Call to the Bar with the option of adding an area of specialism and progressing to complete an LLM. Access a wide range of study materials and be taught and mentored by experienced barristers.

Requirements

English Program Requirements

Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that their oral and written English ability is equivalent to at least one of the following:

IELTS: A minimum score of 7.5 in each section of the test.
Pearson Test of English: A minimum score of 73 in each part of the test
TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition – with minimum scores of 24 in Listening, 26 in Reading, 27 in Speaking and 26 in Writing.

If you are completing your qualifying law degree overseas (even if at a UK university) you will need to provide IELTS, Pearson or TOEFL results meeting the minimum scores required by the Bar Standards Board as proof of English language proficiency. If you are made an offer further details will be provided.

English language programmes

Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.

Career

The Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme is designed to enable you to progress to pupillage and in a career as a barrister.

Competition for pupillage is intense but you will have an advantage with our Pupillage Advice Service (PAS ) and its close links to the Bar. We have a proven record of helping our students to secure pupillages.

You will have developed a range of transferable skills and might consider alternative careers in the following organisations and areas:

Government Legal Department
Crown Prosecution Service
in-house legal departments
local authority legal departments
regulation authorities and compliance roles
academic law
legal publishing
finance and banking.

Enhance your employability

If taken, our clinical legal education module will give you the opportunity to enhance your employability by representing and/or advising real clients and undertaking legal research.

You can also undertake extra-curricular pro bono legal work via our award-winning Law IRL (in real life) Programme which offers a range of opportunities to gain real world legal experience and further develop the skills learn in the classroom.

Placements are not part of this programme but we encourage you to take mini-pupillages and participate in pro bono work and mooting.